While the Rangers are coming off a loss they are still 7-3 in their last 10 games and have the biggest AL division lead, as they are 5.5 games up on the Oakland A’s in the AL West. The Rays are also 7-2 in their last games, but they have lost 2 straight.
The most improved team in the nation was the Wyoming Cowboys in 2011. Wyoming followed up a brutal 3-9 season in 2010 with an impressive 8-5 turnaround in 2011. The team has done this in the past only to slip back the next season. Now, it is up to the Cowboys to keep moving forward even though the Mountain West Conference has gotten a little tougher for the time being.
Nevada moves from the WAC to the Mountain West this year, and the team hopes it will give them a chance for bigger things. Chris Ault’s Pistol system has recruits coming to the school to play in the exciting offensive system. The team went 12-1 two years with Colin Kaepernick at quarterback, but they slid to 7-6 last season.
Hawaii slipped to 6-7 in 2011, and the team decided to part ways with Greg McMackin. Fortunately for the Warriors, they landed a huge name in offensive guru Norm Chow. Chow has been behind the success of quarterbacks such as Ty Detmer, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, and many others. Hawaii fans have high hopes that Chow can move this program forward in the coming years.
After hitting a rough patch a couple weeks back the Angels have won 4 straight and while winning the AL West is a long shot they are only 2.5 games out of the Wild Card lead.
The St. Louis Cardinals have overtaken the Pittsburgh Pirates for second place in the NL Central. Now, the Cardinals are trying to make another late charge toward the playoffs like they did last year.
With control of one of the smaller fish in the conference pond, head coach Mike London is doing an excellent job in Charlottesville. London’s guidance pushed the Cavs to an 8-5 record last year, perhaps squeezing out some close games they shouldn’t have. There are also some pieces back in 2012 to make up a strong offense and a competent defense.
Pat Hill did a ton for the Fresno State Bulldogs. He put this small school on the map by challenging the big boys and winning a lot of games. Hill was fired after an ugly 4-9 season in 2011. Now, it will be up to Tim DeRuyter to get the school going back in the right direction.
Rice won 10 games in 2008 and all seemed to be well in the program’s track back to relevance. Somehow, David Bailiff’s team has managed to win just 10 games since 2008. Basically, Rice was a one-year wonder and they are trying to figure out how to generate that kind of success once again.
The WAC is in shambles right now. This is a conference that will have just seven members as a part of its football roster this year. Louisiana Tech will leave for Conference USA after this season, but they’d like to take home another WAC title before leaving. The Bulldogs went 8-5 and lost to TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl.
Miami was once long a power on the college football scene, but its last national championship occurred in 2001. The program has been in a really trying time of late; coaching changes have gone hand-in-hand with scandal (I don’t know about you, but I’m getting tired of hearing that word as it pertains to NCAA football) and Miami fans, frankly, aren’t used to seeing a .500 ballclub.
The Yankees had a comfortable lead in the AL East for several weeks, but they have lost 3 straight and only lead the hot Tampa Bay Rays by 2.5 games in the division.
Mike Price has led the UTEP Miners to six straight losing seasons, and yet he still has a job. He is in the final year of his contract though, so unless this team has a better season this might be his last year in El Paso. UTEP has made a habit of starting fast and then falling apart late in the season.
Conference USA 2012-2013 College Football Previews: UTEP Miners
Head Coach: Mike Price
2011 Record: 5-7
UTEP Gambling Odds from JustBet to win BCS Championship: (Part of Field) +1,800
UTEP Gambling Odds from 5Dimes to win Conference USA: +1,500
UTEP Team Page – Players Stats – Roster – 2012 Schedule –>
Can the team put together a winning season this year?
UTEP has an extremely difficult non-conference schedule this year, so they’ll have to try to navigate through that and get to a bowl game. The Miners lost quite a few starters from last year’s team, but there are a lot of guys returning who have had some experience on the field in the past. Let’s take a look at the strength and weaknesses of this team.
Mike Edwards is the leader of a strong group of wide receivers. Edwards is only 5’11, but he runs terrific routes and has a way of finding open space. He’ll likely be one of the most productive receivers in the conference this year. On the other side, Jordan Leslie had a solid freshman year and the team expects big things from him in his sophomore campaign.
Germard Reed and Horace Miller give the Miners two starts on the defensive line. Reed is a big defensive tackle who can really plug up the middle of the line. Miller is an impressive pass rusher because of his quickness around the outside. Both of these guys have great motors, and they will be leaders on the field this season.
UTEP must replace all three starting linebackers from last year. Jamie Irving, who missed all of last year due to injury, will be plugged into one of the spots. The rest of the linebacker unit is a major question mark. UTEP has several undersized and inexperienced guys that will likely be on the field here in 2012.
The running back position is a question mark this year as well. UTEP badly needs a consistent running game in the year ahead. Sophomore Nathan Jeffery will be the featured back, but he doesn’t have much help around him. Can the youngster handle a heavy load every week? [soliloquy id=”82219″]
The Miners secondary isn’t very good, which is a big problem in a conference where teams air it out at every opportunity. DeShawn Grayson is a solid safety at the back, but the Miners cornerbacks have had trouble staying in front of people the last couple years. UTEP must do a better job limiting big plays.
I don’t expect this to go well for UTEP in 2012. The Miners play a much more difficult schedule than last season, and I don’t think the team is better. The defense still has tons of holes, and the offense is relying on too many unknowns right now. Mike Price may well be on the way out of El Paso at the end of this season. Look for a very disappointing season for UTEP.
9/1/12 10:30 PM ET OKLA
9/8/12 7:00 PM ET @MISS
9/15/12 8:00 PM ET NMXST
9/22/12 TBD @WISC
9/29/12 TBD @ECAR
10/6/12 TBD SMU
10/13/12 TBD @TULSA
10/20/12 TBD TULNE
10/27/12 TBD @HOU
11/10/12 TBD CENFL
11/17/12 TBD @SOMIS
11/24/12 TBD RICE
It would be hard to get a more high-profile matchup in the preseason. Andrew Luck vs. Robert Griffin III in Washington this Saturday should be great.
Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Redskins NFL Betting Preview
FedEX Field
Date/Time: August 25, 4:00 PM EST
NFL Gambling Odds from GTBets
NFL Betting Favorite: Redskins -3
Total: 43.5
RG3 won the Heisman, but Luck was the top draft pick. Everyone knows these two will be compared for many years to come, and this will be the first time they face off against one another on the field.
Let’s take a look at this highly anticipated showdown.
Andrew Luck was amazing in his first preseason game against the Rams, but he struggled last time out against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers have one of the best defenses in the NFL, so it shouldn’t come as a shock that Luck couldn’t get going in that one. Still, it proved that while he is an extremely talented quarterback; Luck still has a ton of improving to do. This third preseason game will be a spot where the Colts starters get more playing time than they have in the past.
Indianapolis’ starters are expected to play into the third quarter of this one. Donald Jones will likely get more carries in this one, and Reggie Wayne should be targeted quite a few times. Jerry Hughes is in midseason form for the defense. Hughes already has three sacks in two preseason games. [soliloquy id=”82219″]
Robert Griffin III hasn’t seen as much playing time in the preseason as Luck. He has one touchdown and no interceptions, but he has only attempted 14 passes. Look for Griffin to play a little more in this one, but he still might not play as much as Luck. Kirk Cousins has been great for the Redskins in backup duty.
Cousins threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns in their last game in Chicago. Pierre Garcon will be playing against his former team here, and I expect him to come up with several catches. Aldrick Robinson has made a big impact for the Redskins offense so far this preseason.
Ryan Kerrigan leads an improving pass rush for the Washington defense.
Look for Luck and Griffin to both have a good game here. Mike Shanahan typically puts a higher emphasis on winning preseason games than any other coach in the NFL. Shanahan’s teams are 47-23 since 1997 in the preseason. I think Washington wins this one and covers the spread.
Free NFL Pick: Washington -3
All six MLB divisions remain up for grabs as the regular season continues to grind-on through the dog days of summer. While these close races have a tendency to make handicapping the games a bit more difficult, after carefully analyzing all the pitching matchups for this Thursday’s slate we have uncovered a golden opportunity for a two-team parlay.
The NASCAR Sprint Cup series is back in prime time at the Bristol Motor Speedway for the running of the IRWIN Tools Night Race. The action gets underway this Saturday night starting at 7 p.m. (ET) and it will be broadcast nationally on ABC.
